High hopes - a Spanish town's quest for a pot of gold

By
Euronews

Desperate times, desperate measures. A Spanish town is planning to rent out municipal land for the cultivation of marijuana to help clear 1.3 million euros of debt. Officials in Rasquera believe they will not be breaking the law as long as the crop is used for personal use.

The mayor explained that with a monthly rental income of 54,000 euros over two years, the town would be able to pay the total amount it owes.

There was a mixed reaction from locals. One man said: “There are a lot of people living off the land we need something to keep us going.”

Another was a lot less welcoming: “And now we’re going to grow marijuana here! What can I say!”

A nonprofit group called the Barcelona Association of Cannabis Self-Medication has reportedly got a whiff of the project and is willing to take a pot at the scheme.